Russell evarts



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RUSSELL EVARTS, OF MADISON, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVED MODE 0F PREVENTING SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS FROM DRAGGING THEIRPARTING THEIR CABLES.

ANCHORS AND Specification forming part of Letters Patent` No. l ,4 18,dated November 25, 1839.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RUSSELL EVERTS, of Madison, in the county of NewHaven and State of Connecticut, have invented a machine to prevent shipsand other vessels from dragging from their moorings in a gale of wind,and to make them ride safely at their moorings; and I do hereby declarethat the following is a full and exact description.

My machine consists of a weight of iron or other metal, called a sinkenthe base being square and the height about twice as great as the breadthof the base. In its top is a semicircle to receive the chain or cable.Near the top is a hole to receive a bolt, which is to fasten a clasp tothe sinker. There are also two rings below the bolt-hole and above thecenter of the sinker; a clasp which is of iron and made to t on twosides of the sinker, consisting of atop with two arms extending down thesides of the sinker below the bolthole above described,withcorresponding boltholes in both arms of the clasp to receive the boltwhich passes through the sinker, thus connecting it with the clasp;also, a roller which is secured to the clasp by a bolt of iron passingthrough both sides or arms of the clasp, and also through the center ofsaid roller, being secured by a head, key, or otherwise. This rolleroccupies the space in the upper part of the clasp, and revolvesimmediately above the sinker, having also a semicircular groovecorresponding with the semicircle or groove in the sinker, which circleor hole thus formed receives the chain or cable. The revolutions of theroller caused by the weight of the sinker force them forward on thechain.

To use my machine the sinker is to be taken out of the clasp and apieceof rigging passed through the rings in its Sides, in order to putit over the bow of the vessel, which being done bring the groove in itstop directly under the chain and close to it. The roller and claspattached are then to be placed directly over the chain to meet thesinker. They are then fastened together by the bolt made for thatpurpose. `The whole machine is thus Securely attached to the chain,which passes through the circle or hole between the roller and sinker.Cast off the rigging from the sinker and it will roll downto the anchor,thus preventing it from dragging, and in case there is danger of partingthe chain, attach another sinker, as before stated, of the sameconstruction, securing it by rigging made fast to the rings, also to thebow of the vessel. Then let it run down the chain about half-way to theanchor, where its weight will bear upon the chain, and as the vesselyields to the anchor the sinker thus suspended takes up the slack cable,prevents the sudden heaving of the vessel, and consequently lessens thedanger of parting the chain.

To avoid the difficulty and danger of adjusting the machine on the chainin consequence of ice or a very heavy sea, one of the followingconstructions may be used: A similar clasp, bolt, and roller are used asabove described. At the extremities of the arms of the clasp two springsare secured -one to each arm-extending upward toward the roller, beingelliptical in shape, and meeting each other at the top, forming a Gothicarch in the center of the clasp. Said springs, though they press eachother at the top, are-not united. Instead of one large sinker, twosmaller ones are attached-one to each extremity of the arms of theclasp. The clasp has a ring in the center 'of the top to receive therigging by which it is lowered over the bow and attached to the bow ofthe vessel. When used one sinker must be dropped on each side of thechain, the weight of which will cause the springs to open and let `thechain through them up to the roller, then to be used in all respects andfor the same purposes as the one described having only one sinker.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

The method of preventing vessels from dragging their anchors or partingtheir cables and to make them ride safely and easily at their mooringsby the employment of the combined roller and weight or Weights on thecable in the manner described.

RUSSELL EVARTS.

VitnesseS:

JESSE CEAMPTON, J. R. CRAMPTGN.

